“These 2013 certified creative districts are great examples of how the arts create exciting places for people to visit and live,” said Gov. John Hickenlooper, in a statement released Wednesday. “These districts not only increase quality of life, they also help with economic vitality of the area and attract people from all over Colorado and the country.”

The creative district program formed in 2011 and the first districts — Denver’s Arts District on Santa Fe and Downtown Salida – won the first-ever grants in 2012. Colorado Creative Industries is part of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, which works with the Boettcher Foundation in recognizing creative districts.

The Pueblo Creative Corridor includes 225 artists who help attract nearly 83,000 visitors a year.
Trinidad’s creative district, Corazon de Trinidad, includes six pieces of mystery art on vacant buildings, all created by an artist who remains unknown to the public.

The North Fork Valley Creative District includes artists in Paonia, Hotchkiss and Crawford.

The Ridgway Creative District includes visual, design, performing, textile, culinary, brewing and publishing artisans who account for more than 10 percent of Ridgway’s 900 residents.

The Telluride Creative District includes more than 1,600 artists who help draw 255,000 art lovers every year to Telluride.

David joined The Denver Post in 1999, his second go-round in the Mile High City. Since then he’s covered a variety of topics – from human services to consumer affairs – most always with an investigative bent. Currently he does investigations and banking.